{"id":13874,"date":"2015-06-30T15:45:04","date_gmt":"2015-06-30T19:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=13874"},"modified":"2015-07-01T12:56:57","modified_gmt":"2015-07-01T16:56:57","slug":"hang-on-a-second-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/hang-on-a-second-seriously\/","title":{"rendered":"Hang on a second…seriously"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"WWV-TimeCodeGenerator\"<\/a>

One of four WWV time code generators in late August, 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

Tonight, for the first time in three years, we will experience a leap second. What is a leap second? \u00a0Wikipedia provides\u00a0a concise explanation:<\/p>\n

A leap second is a one-second adjustment<\/strong> that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to keep its time of day close to the mean solar time, or UT1. Without such a correction, time reckoned by Earth’s rotation drifts away from atomic time because of irregularities in the Earth’s rate of rotation.<\/strong> Since this system of correction was implemented in 1972, 25 such leap seconds have been inserted. The most recent one happened on June 30, 2012 at 23:59:60 UTC. A leap second, the 26th, will again be inserted at the end of June 30, 2015 at 23:59:60 UTC.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Like many of you, when I think of time–or UTC–I think about the NIST radio station WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I had the honor of visiting the facility last year<\/a> (yes, photo tour still forthcoming!). \u00a0During the tour, my guide and\u00a0Chief Engineer at WWV and WWVB, Matthew Deutch,\u00a0told me\u00a0that he’s always going to be on site come Leap Second!<\/p>\n

\"MattDeutch-WWVB\"<\/a>

WWV’s Matthew Deutch with WWVB antennas in background<\/p><\/div>\n

I wrote\u00a0Matt\u00a0this morning to ask\u00a0what were his plans tonight? \u00a0His\u00a0reply:<\/p>\n

“The leap second happens at 0000 UTC tonight, which is 6:00 pm here in Fort Collins.\u00a0All of the programming took place at the beginning of the month, so the equipment is armed…we just sit back and watch for the leap this evening.<\/p>\n

Even though it is automated I hang around the station to make sure everything goes smoothly at the critical moment…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"WWV-First-Sign-SM\"<\/a>Matthew closed his message by wishing me a “Happy Leap Second.”<\/p>\n

Back at you, Matt! We hope that second leaps as smoothly as you’d like!<\/p>\n

Not to put Matt on the spot, but you can listen to WWV (or the atomic clock of your choice) make the leap second tonight at 00:00 UTC. As for me, I’ll hop on\u00a010 MHz and 15 MHz to hear (and hopefully record) the extra “tick.” At the end of this post, I’ve provided a list of time stations for your convenience.<\/p>\n

Happy Leap Second!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"20MHZtransmitter\"<\/a>

WWV 20 MHz Collins transmitter<\/p><\/div>\n

List of shortwave radio time stations<\/h2>\n